Melissa Harris-Perry (who has been doing an excellent job of subing for Rachel Maddow) asked Howard Fineman a real interesting question. "Is there a structural problem being evident here?" (paraphrasing)
Howard Fineman, as any member of the establishment would, punted and said "Yes." An odd way to punt but he said that the problem was that the ideological extremes will not allow the government to deal with the major issues facing this nation.
But he, as all establishment members, will NOT look at the real problem. The government is the problem. Please don't confuse my meaning. I'm not saying that Democrats are the problem. Or that we should lessen government services. We should increase them.
I mean the structure of the government has outlived it's usefulness!
Now you will find no more fervent devotee of the Founders than me. I grew up listening to my father, an excellent history teacher, telling stories of the Founders as a sports fan would tell their children of great Super Bowls. And I have no fear that those men and women would tell us it's time for a change. Didn't Jefferson say that no generation should be bound by the laws and government of another?
We have a government that does not work. Jobs and the Economy? Hasn't been looked at since jobs were being lost at 750,000 a month! Climate Change? Can't be talked about (Senate)! Infrastructure? Can't be appropriated due (Tea Party House bc of gerrymandered districts)! Financial Reform? Public screaming for it! Passed a vague law full of 400 regulations (eviscerated by Lobbyists through regulatory process and stalled by filibuster in the Senate of CFPB director!) Healthcare Reform? Noble attempt but almost entirely gutted (Filibuster in the Senate!)
And now they can't fucking pay their G-d Damned Bills!
We need a Constitutional Convention!
We need to acknowledge the regulatory state in the Constitution!
We need to weaken an overly powerful executive! (How about just Question Time if we can not even try to prevent the President from going to war whenever he or she feels like it.)
We need to strengthen a Congress that has given away all its power! (I think we need to eliminate the Senate. I don't need any cold tea Mr. Washington.)
We need to provide for national initiative and recall powers!
WE NEED TO ELIMINATE MONEY IN POLITICS! (I want to ban all spending in political elections of any kind on the British model while weakening the power of media corporations (anybody want to trustbust!). And ban the ability to hire someone to speak to a legislator or regulator for you).
Am I wrong or is this government done? What other changes need to be made?
On a technical note, I wish you could pick multiple choices in a DKos poll.